Skyrocket



Feb. 8, 1938. L. F. HoLcoMB 'sKYRocKET Filed Jilly 26. 1955 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ZesZLef/F//o feo/H1.l IWW/1%,

/11'5 ATTORNEY.

Feb. s, 193s. L, F, HOLCQMB 2,107,734

SKYROCKET Filed July 26, 1935 A 2 Sheets-Sheet r2 /1 s ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 8,1938

SKYROCKET Lester F. Holcomb, Freeport, N. Y., assignor to ParamountFireworks Company,

Inc., New

York, N. Y., a corporation of'New York Application July`26, 1935, SerialNo 33,303

My present invention relates to improvements in skyrockets. Morespecifically, the invention pertains to improvements in the constructionof wing skyrockets of the type shown and described in my copendingapplication for Letters Patent, Serial #699,113. The improved skyrocketherewith disclosed is also constructed to include, tail wings forguiding the same during ilight, which wings similarly serve to form abase to maintain the article in a substantially vertical positionpreparatory to firing. v

The primary object of the invention is to construct a' skyrocket of thewing type which will include wings that have suflicient rigidity andstrength to resist breakage, or bending out of shape with relation tothe rocket casing, during the handling of the same in shipment. Thematerial preferably employed in forming the present wings for theskyrocket is a heavy fibre board of approximately if of an inch inthickness.

A further object of the invention is to provide a skyrocket, which'maybe fired from the ground without the assistance of the customary guidesticks during the initial period of its iiight, so that the possibilityof damage due to falling metallic, or wooden parts, such as heretoforeemployed in skyrocket construction, is eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for securing thewing sections of the rocket to the lower portion of the casing thereof,so that the wings are securely and irremovably placed in position.

The inventive concepts, herein specifically disclosed, particularlyreside in the combination rocket casing and wing structure, as shown inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 ls a perspective view of the improved skyrocket;

Fig. 2 is a central sectional elevation of the lower part of the rocketcasing showing the preferred form of wing in position therein;

Fig. 3 ls a detailed perspective view of a wing, such as employed inconnection with the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2; l

Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 2, in which a modication of the wingstructure is illustrated;

Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective view of the connected wings employed inthe form of the invention shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a central sectional elevation of the lower part of the casingof the skyrocket illustrating a further modification of Wing attachmenttherewith;

Fig. 'l is a detailed perspective view of the wing attachment shown inFig. 6 of the drawings;

1 claim. (o1. ica-23) Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the rocket casingillustrating the construction of the same as employed with each of theforms of wings shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 7;

Fig. 9 is a central sectional elevation of a further modied form orocket casing' indicating the wings employed, therewith, in position;

l Fig. l0 is a bottom plan view of the skyrocket with wings attached, asshown in Fig. 9, and

Fig. 1l is a detailed perspective View of one of the wings utilized inthe form of the invention embodied in Figs. 9 and l0.

With reference particularly to Fig. l of the drawings, the skyrocketconstructed in accordance with the present invention 'includes the'customary tubular rocket casing i5 and Aconieally shaped head member it.The propelling and pyrotechnic charges are situated in the usual mannerwithin the rocket casing it. Tail Wings il are provided to stand therocket casing in a 20 substantially vertical position upon the ground,or some other level surface preparatory to ring.- 'Ihese wings, whichalso serve the purpose of guiding the rocket during flight, extendradiall ly from the lower portion of the rocket casing 2, and are spacedequidistantly about the periphery of the same. The fuse for theskyrocket is indicated at iti in the drawings. k

The preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in detail inFigs. 2, 3 and 8 of the drawings indicates the improved skyrocketconstruction to include a numberci slots l@ in the lower body portion ofthe rocket casing it. The slots le are cut through the thickness of thecylindrical casing and extend in a longitudinal direction to a positiondirectly below the customary internal choke of the skyrocket indicatedat 2d in the drawings. The slots in the casing are spaced equidistantlyabout its periphery, being preferably four in number, so that the sameare situated apart. Individual wing sections, as indicated in detail inFig. 3, are secured to the rocket casing in each of the slotted openingsI9. The Wings are provided with an internally extending portion,designated at 2|, which is engaged in the slots in the casing adapted toreceive the same. The respective wings are secured by gluing orotherwise fastening the same to the adjoining slotted sides of thecasing. The width of the slots substantially corresponds to the thicknesof the material forming the wings, so that thesame make a very closefit. The wings in the assembled rocket, as shown in Fig. 1, extendradially from the rocket casing, and are securely maintained in thisposition due to the thickness of the wing itself and the joined portionof the same fitting within the rocket casing.

In the form of the invention indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, the casingconstruction, heretofore set forth, is also employed. Inl this instance,the wings I1 are joined in pairs, as shown in detail inl Fig. 4.Oppositely disposed wing sections have integral joining pieces 22. Thejoiningpieces for pairs ofthe wings are notched as indicated at 22, sothat the same form male and female connections for spacing the wings atright angles to one another. 'I'he respective joined pieces 22 areplaced in position within the slotted endV of the rocket casing, thesame rmly securing the wings in position therein.

With reference particularly 'to Figs. 6 and 7, a further modification ofthe internal portion of wing structure, as herein employed, isillustrated. In this form of the invention, the wings I1` are in pairsarranged at right anglesv to one another. Each wing section I1 isprovided with an internal slot engaging portion 24 corresponding to thepart 2| employed in the individual wing construction referred to inconnection with Figs. 2 and 3. An arcuately shaped joining pieceintegrally connects the respective wings, said joining piece beingdesignated at 25. 'Ihe wing sections are secured in the slotted openingsI9 in the bottom of the rocket casing, the joining piece 25 fittingagainst the curved inner surface of the case situated between respectiveslotted openings therein. The wings in this form of the invention,

as well as that described in connection with Figs. 4 and 5, are alsosecured to the rocket casing preferably by gluing the same at theirrespective joining portions so as to further insure a permanent tit. Theinterior face ofthe wings abutting the casing in a position above thelongitudinal extension of the slots I9 may also be secured thereto bygluing or otherwise in each of the above forms of construction.

In connection with the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 9, 10,and 11, the rocket casing I5, 'is exteriorly grooved or slotted toaccommodate the length of the wing I1 as indicated at 26. The slots 26are spaced equidistantly from one another about the periphery of therocket casing and extend approximatelyI to a depth of half the thicknessof the'casing. The wings I1 have an interiorly extending portion 21 of athickness closely fitting the groove or slot 26 along the side of thecasing, the wings being secured in position therein by means of glue orotherwise. `'I'he slots, in this form of the invention, extendlongitudinally to a position on the "easing above the internal choke'20,the same lower portion of the casing, a plurality of slots in the casingin a position below the choke element, said slots extending through thethickness of the casing wall and being equidistantly spaced about itsperiphery, wings extending radiallyA from the casing being formed bygroups of twd integrally joined sections, the joining portion of each ofthe groups of wings being arcuate in shape to conform tothe interiorsurface of the rocket casing, and means for securing each of the wingsections in adjoining slots of the easing.

LESTER F. HOLCOMB.

